Chair



July 30, 1946- J. A. CAMPBELL CHAIR Filed Nov. 19, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CHAIR INVENTOR. James L zbl, BY I J. A. CAMPBELL Filed Nov. 19, 1942 July 30, 19'46.

Patented July 30, 1946 CHAIR James A. Campbell, Adrian, Mich., assignor of one-half to Charles Mich.

T. Campbell, Adrian,

Application November 19, 1942 Serial No. 466,103

5 Claims. 1

The present invention is directed to certain improvements embodied in supports such as pedestals and legs for stools, chairs, tables and other similar articles. More specically the invention is directedk to adjustment features embodied in such columns or legs for the various articles referred to.

Heretofore various constructions have been utilized inA providing extensible members for varying the heights of seats of chairs and stools, and other articles or for varying the heights of table tops or similar articles, but the present construction has as one of its main objects the provision of cooperative mechanisms embodied by way of example in a single column o r pedestal for a chair and wherein the greater percentage of the entire chair and its associated parts are primarily made of'non-metallic materials such as wood, lber, plastics, etc., orco-mbinations thereof.

Another of the objects relating to the preferred form of construction herein disclosed and described is the provision of improved means for positively locking the relatively movable members which provide the extensible support or column. The locking means will positively prevent collapse of the relatively movable members under load and at the same time such members incorporate means for permitting free movement of said members in one direction to raise the elevation of the seat height and also incorporate cooperative actuating means for releasing the locking mechanism to permit relative movement of the members in either direction for resetting the chair in its lowermost position at which stage one of the actuating means functions to restore the locking means to a position for again actively locking said relatively movable members against collapse of the chair.

All other objects and advantages associated with the detailed construction and improvements embodied in the stool of the present invention will hereinafter be pointed out in the following detailed description having reference to a preferred embodiment of chair as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a chair incorporating a preferred form of improved column or support for maintaining the height of the seat r Fig. 3` is a cross-sectional viewtaken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. llis a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is another transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5- in Fig. 2, and

Fig, 6 is a modied illustration of a fragmentary portion of the chair column showing a modified form of spring for latching the holding link and for maintaining the same in operative engagement with the notches in the movable column.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the chair comprises a column I supported'upon the suitable legs 2 and 3 which are adapted to cross through suitably positioned groovesprovided in the bottom portion of the column. A seat 4 with' an associated back 5 and back supports are all suitably fastened to the seat base 'I fixedly secured to the movable column or support 8. The column or support I for the chair provides the fixed member, while the column or support 8 for the chair seat is the movable member, and hence, it is obvious that the members l and 8 may be considered as relatively movable members when taken together and in their telescopic relationship.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2-and 3, it is to be noted that the column I is divided into two cooperating sections I0 and II which together provide a common opening I2 for the reception of the movable column or support 8. The latter is preferably of square construction and the opening l2 is also square to receive the column 8 whereby column I and column 8 are prevented from relative rotation with respect to each other.

One face I3 of the column 8 is provided with a plurality of notches I4 that are adapted to cooperate with and receive one end of a link l5 which is pivotally supported at I6 in the section Il of the fixed column I. The link I5 extends about the square column 8V and will normally engage the face I3 of the latter column through gravity and obviously will lie within one of the notches I4 substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Whenever column 8 is moved from the position shown in the drawings and relatively to the column l to the limit of its upward movement as determined by the bottom-most notch, certain other mechanisms will determine the practical limits of movement of the column 8 relative to the column l as hereinafter explained.

In Fig. 3, the upper end of the link I5 which is pivoted, as at IB, rests in the slot Il traversing the upper face of section Il of ythe columnzl, and a eficacia suitable wooden insert I8 is pressed or otherwise secured within the slot i1 to hold the link I5 in its proper pivotal position. Also, the horizontal portions of the link I may be provided with suitable sleeve rollers such as I5 and 28 if desired to insure greater freedom of operation of the link I5 in the capacity for which it was designed.

To further accommodate the swinging movement of the link I5, the upper end of the sections I8, II of the column I are suitably cut out as at 2l and 22 (see Figs. 2 and 4) to provide clearance for the side arms of the link I5 as the latter swings about its pivot IS.

The section Il! of column I is also provided with a recess 23 substantially of the shape shown at the upper end thereof to accommodate the freely swingabl-e end of the link I5 as the latter is moved about its pivot I6 during the oper'- ation of the chair. An additional slot 24 is centrally located with respect to the axial center of the chair column'an'dj also centrally with respect to the recess or cavity -23 and this slot 24 is adapted for accommodating the leaf spring member 25 suitably secured to the bottom of the slotby means of screws such as 28. Spring 25 is provided with a latch portion 21 which acts to hold the outer end 28 of the link I5 in the raised Iposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 whenever the link is forced to snap beyond the latch portion 21 of the spring and out of the path of the movable column 8 and its associated notches I4.

The upper end of the column I is closed by means of the cap 32 secured to said column by means of the relatively thin strap 3i as by means of the screws 32 and 33 which pass through the strap and into the cap 38 and column I, respectively'.- Obviously, the strap 3| may be of a single piece or may overlap as at in Fig. 4 with the ends thereof secured in place by means of the screws 34.

The square column 8 is provided with the spaced pins 35 and 31 whichmay be of fiber or other suitable material and which extend through the column with their ends projecting beyond each side face of the columnand substantially along axes parallel to the direction of the notches I4 as illustrated. To accommodate the projectingends of the pins 35-and 31, the sections I0 and I I ofthe column I are provided with common slots 3S and 39 which extend the full length of the movement of said center column 8 and which terminate in the cavity at the upper end of column I that accommodates the link I5. The cap Eil is also provided with diametrically located slots 40 and 4I to permit the passage of the projecting ends of the pins 3S and 31 during the assembly of the chair or in the event that repairs are to be made. These notches may be omitted if desired to eliminate the possibility of having articles or dirt dropping into or being forced into the operating mechanisms of the chair inasmuch as the cap 38 is removable.

The operation of the extensible column of the chair is simple and precise and obviously when once set asto the height required by an individual, the same will normally be maintained at such a height until used for a diierent purpose or by a different person. Normally, when the column 8 is telescoped within the column I so as .to support the seat 4 in its lowermost elevation-with respect to the floor, the bottom end of the column 3 will rest on the felt insert 42 and the latter also actsV as a cushioning means at any time that the column 8 is telescoped to CAD its bottom-most position within the column I. When the chair is in this position, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the seat may be adjusted vertically by increments as determined by the spacing the notches I4 by lifting or raising the seat 4. Through this action, the cam portions 43 of the notches I4 act to engage the sleeve roller I9 and to swing the link I5 about its pivot I6 and into the recess 23 in the section I2 of the column I. As each successive notch approaches the link, the latter will drop into place and when the desired seat elevation is reached the link I5 will act to firmly support the column 8 through the side portions of the link and on its pivotal end I5 nested in the upper end of the section II oi column I. This provides the very strong holding means for preventing relative movement of' the members I and 8 in a direction to collapseA the chair or its eXtensible column. Also, the tensional stresses imposed on the column 8 by the reaction of the link I5 within the particu-- lar notch I4 in which it lies will be stronglyl counteracted in view of the fact that the link I5 is located about the column 8 and the greatery portion of the cross-sectional area of the column. 8 is disposed within the link and in the line of.

force between the horizontally extending portions;

I5 and 28 of the link I5.

Whenever it is desired to reset the chair height;

and the columns I and 8 for again adjusting the; elevation of the seat 4 of the chair, the seat 4 and:

the column 8 may be lifted to their maximum,

height which is determined by the ends of the lower pin S1 striking against the swingable side. legs of the link I5 and this action causes the` link to snap into its dotted line position in Fig. 2; past the latch portion 21 of the spring 25. The link will be retained in this position entirelyv out of the path of movement of the column 8: within the column I, thereby allowing the column. 8 free movement within the column I inasmuchas no coo erative engagement will then resultv between the end 28 of the link I5 and any one'. of the notches I4. By then allowing the column` 8 to drop or to be moved downwardly toward. its lowermost position, the projecting ends of the. upper pin 36 will then strike the swingable legs of the link I5 to again cause the latter to snap: beyond the latch portion 21 of the spring 25'. Link I5 will then swing against the side face I3 of the column 8 by gravity and into the uppermost notch i4 so positioned and arranged to receive the end 23 of the link I5 when members I and 8 are in their maximum telescoped and nested positions. Adjustment of the seat height of the chair may then again be effected by moving the column 8 relative to the column I by raising the seat 4 to any desired position suited for the particular use to which the chair small be applied.

The present design of chair has been devised to provide an adjustable article of the class described which is substantially entirely made of non-metallic materials such as wood, fiber, plastics, or the like, and wherein the metallic pieces employed are substantially reduced to an absolute minimum.

It is also to be noted that the legs 2 and 3 have been positioned substantially at 45 degrees with respect to the front and back plane of the chair for the convenience of allowing a certain amount of tilting of the chair when in use. Also, the notches I4 for receiving the end 22 of the link I5 have been disposed in a position to the rear of the chair to guard against the possibility of catch- 5 ing theclothing of the user in the notches when the latter are exposed through the separation o the columns I and B as described.

In the preferred form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the operation of the link I5 depends upon gravity and for that reason any chair or stool or other article supported by means of an extensible column would necessarily have to be disposed in positions wherein the column will normally be maintained substantialiy vertically or reasonably close thereto. It is also possible to conceive various 'other situations wherein it might be necessary to tilt the extensible column or the same might be applied in such positions wherein the link I5 Wouldnormally be Yunable to drop into any one of the several slots I4. For this reason the modication illustrated in Fig. 6 has been added to illustrate a more positive means for holding the link I5 against the face I3 of the column 8 or more speciiically within any particular notchv I4 which is aligned with the end 28 of the link I 5 to take care of situations as above referred to.

Therefore, to eiiect the positive operation of the link I5 independent of gravity, the spring 25 in the preferred form of construction has been replaced by a spring 45 so shaped and mounted within-a recess 46 in the upper end of the section I of the column I as to normally urge the end 28 of the link I5 into active engagement with the notches I4. The spring 45 in this case is secured adjacent the upper face of the section I0 of the column I by means of screws 41 or the like. The free end portion 48 of the spring 45 is made to bear against the side I3 of the column 8 and regardless of the position of the pedestal. Whenever the column 8 is moved the link I5 will be cammed against the straight end 48 of the spring by means of the cam surfaces 43 of the notches and the spring section 48 will force the link into the next succeeding notch when the latter is brought in line with the link end 28 of the link I5. The spring 45 is also provided with the curved portion 49 which provides the latching means for holding the link I when the latter is urged over the high point 50 on the spring to be held out 01 operative engagement with the notches I4 in the column 8 in the same manner as in the preferred form of construction.

The foregoing description as relating to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as disclosed in the drawings may obviously permit of various modiiications which presumably will not depart from the general scope and eld of the present invention. Hence, it is to be under* stood that the present extensible means as incorporated in a chair, stool, or the like, is not to be limited to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts as specifically referred to and described or to the particular uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an adjustable chair or the like, the combination of two relatively movable telescoped members coacting to support a chair seat, concealed retaining means connecting said members to lock the same against relative movement in one direction and to allow said members to be relatively moved in the opposite direction to adjust the supported height of the seat, said retaining means comprising a swingable detent disposed wholly within the outer member and pivotally carried by the outer member on a fulcrum disposed at one side of the inner member with the detent surrounding the inner member, said detent being normally positioned by gravity in the path of movement of the inner member, said outer member having a recess within its interior in which the datent is contained, and said inner member having notches in one side thereof to receive a coacting member of the detent, whereby said two relatively movable members are locked against relative motion in said one-direction, said recess permitting said detent to be moved out of the path of said inner member during the relative movement of said members in the aforesaid opposite direction, abutment means carried by said inner member and arranged to engage said detent when the inner member is raised a predetermined distance, whereby to move said swingabie detent out of the path of movement of the inner member to permit free relative movement of said members in either direction, other abutment means carried by the inner member above the detent, functioning to swing the detent into operative position, and resilient means carried by the outer member functioning to yieldably hold the detent in inoperative position.

2, In an adjustable chair, the combination of two relatively movable telescoped members providing an extensible column for supporting a seat at various heights within certain predeter- .mined limits, a pivoted link disposed wholly within the outer member and pivotally carried by the outer member and extending about the inner one of said members and lying thereagainst, said inner member having a plurality of notches, said link having one portion thereof engageable by gravity within the connes of any one of said notches whereby the telescoped members are locked against relative movement in one direction to support said seat, and abutment members carried by the inner member, one above and one below said link, one of which is arranged to move said link out of the path of movement of the inner member when a denite seat height is attained and the other acting to restore the link to active locking position at another seat height removed from the iirst seat height and a latch member secured to the outer telescoped member in a recess thereof and latchingly engageable with said link when the latter is moved upward.

3. In an adjustable chair, the combination of two relatively movable telescoped members providing an extensible column for supporting a seat at various heights within certain predetermined limits, a link wholly within and pivotally carried by the outer one of said members and extending about the other member and lying thereagainst, said other member having a plurality of notches, said link having one portion thereof engageable by gravity Within the coniines of any one of said notches whereby said relatively movable members are locked against relative movement in one direction to support said seat, abutment members carried by the inner one of said movable members, one above and one below said link and operating to move said link out of the path of movement of said other member When a denite seat height is attained and to restore the link to active locking position at another seat height removed from said first seat height, and a spring latch secured to one of said members and functioning to hold said link out of locking position with respect to said members until restored to active locking relation thereto.

4. In an extensible support, the combination of a pair of telescoping members adapted for relative movement and having a relatively close iit therebetween, retaining mechanism coacting between said members to lock the same in certain relative positions to prevent the diminution of the overall length of said telescoping members, said retaining mechanism comprising a swingable detent contained within and swingable within a recess in the outer member and surrounding the inner member, said detent having one end pivotally connected with the outer member and adjacent one side of the inner member, the other end of said detent being adapted to engage the other side of the inner member, said inner member having notches in the side thereof engaged by said detent to allow said other end of the detent to position itself in the path of movement of said inner member whereby relative movement of said telescoping members in a direction to decrease the overall length of said members is prevented, said notches having sloping edges cooperating with said detent to permit said telescoping members to move apart to adjustably increase the overall length of the combined members, abutment means carried by the inner member adapted to engage and swing said detent out of the path of movement of the inner member when the latter is raised to a predetermined height for rendering said retaining mechanism inoperative to prevent the diminution of the overall length of said combined members, whereby said length may -be readjusted, other abutment means caril ried by the inner member for restoring the detent to its normal position for again preventing diminution of the overall length of the combined members, and a spring latch carried by the outer member for yieldably holding the detent in inoperative position.

5. In an extensible support, the combination of a pair of telescoping members adapted for relative movement, retaining mechanism coacting between said members'to lock the same in certain relative positions to prevent the diminution of the overall length of said combined members, said retaining mechanism comprising a swingable detent contained Wholly within and having one end pivotally connected with one of said members and adjacent one side of the other member, the other end of said detent extending across and engaging the other side of said other member, and there being notches in the side of said other member to allow said other. end of said detent to position itself in the path of movement of said notched member, whereby relative movement of said telescoping members in a direction to decrease the overall length of the combined members is prevented, said notches having inclined edges to permit said detent to pass from notch to notch and thereby permit said telescopng members to move apart to adjustably increase the overall length of the combined members, and means for rendering said retaining mechanism inoperative to prevent the diminution of the overall length of said combined members, said means comprising latch means to hold the detent out of the path of movement of said other member, said latch means including a spring arm for normally urging said detent into locking relation with said other member when said retaining mechanism functions in the capacity of preventing the diminution of the overa11 combined length of said members, and upper and lower abutment means carried by the notched member, the upper abutment means adapted to release said detent from the spring latch, and the lower abutment means adapted to engage said detent with the latch.

JAMES A. CAMPBELL. 

